Volunteering at Tushita

Serving others, taking care of others with a good heart, with love and compassion, is the best life. Especially here, your service in looking after others is very important because the people coming here are trying to meditate, to practice Dharma, and trying to liberate themselves from samsara and to achieve enlightenment. Even though you are not actually teaching Dharma, your contribution is similar, since you are helping them get out of samsara and helping them achieve enlightenment.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Tushita! Volunteering with us is a wonderful opportunity to benefit others, while living in the blessed environment of a multi-cultural Dharma centre in McLeod Ganj, India (aka “Little Lhasa”), the home-in-exile of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Tushita’s volunteers have a 6 day working week (yes, we work hard!). Food and board will be provided at Tushita as well as the offer of a free course after the working period. We ask for a minimum commitment of one year (unless otherwise stated).

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Words from Past Volunteers

Tushita is the place that has changed my life by a hundred percent, there is no way of describing the benefit it gave me. After having done my first course I was welcomed with open hearts, patience and kindness. If you are looking for an absolutely beautiful and serene place, where you can learn from great teachers and people about yourself, about finding true happiness and transforming your negativities, while at the same time benefitting so many people, this is it! I am sure your experience at Tushita will mark a very meaningful time in your life. It is not really possible to describe how amazing and important my time here has been, but I am absolutely sure you will never regret coming to Tushita, because what you learn from here stays with you forever. Great thanks to all the lamas, teachers, staff, volunteers and animals that selflessly make this truly wonderful place happen! My gratitude is yours forever!

Philip Becker (Germany) 2018 & 2019

We came to Tushita already for many years to study in a very condusive and welcoming environment. When Tushita needed help we were really happy to be of service. As volunteering is not only a continuity of a spiritual practice it gave us a direct opportunity to repay the kindness of our teacher, the center and its very committed staff. It presented also a great inside into how much work and enthusiasm is needed to offer these great courses in such a smooth and beneficial way. We thank everyone at Tushita for the opportunity, their patience and their very inspiring work ethic which is always concerned first about the wellbeing of their teachers, students and staff. We are grateful to have a found a home away from home in Tushita.

Julie and Daniel (Germany) – Meditation Leader & Reception 2018

To try to put our experience in Tushita in just a few words is difficult!!… For us its a place to learn, about oneself and others, which at the end of the day is the same thing!!… Tushita is special in many ways, not just the location and the energy of the place, the monkeys and the mountains… but the fact that is a melting pot where people from everywhere come to to experience meditation and Buddhist teachings for the first time… you see them changing as the days go by, then you have the locals working, Tibetans and Indians, the volunteers… you name it!! all together…

John (Ireland) – Kitchen Manager/Housekeeping 2009/2010/2012/2013

Sometimes it seemed that we were not going to make it on time for the next event….but magically things always seemed to fall into place.. even if it was at the very last minute…which its a test on its own for the mind!!… for anyone wanting to learn about Tibetan Buddhism while at the same time serving others Tushita is the place to go..and last but not least, there is always room for the amazing unexpected to happen… so yes, we will be back !!!

Angela (Spain) – Office Manager/Housekeeper 2009/2010/2012/2013

For me, volunteering at Tushita was a perfect opportunity to continue spiritual practice. Simply being on the premises was a reminder to keep practicing the meditation and mindfulness techniques that I learned in the 10 day course. There were frequent meditations, pujas, and teachings which also let me continue learning. And the most inspirational thing for me was being surrounded by people who have made the dharma their life’s work. It was a rich and rewarding experience and I wish I could’ve stayed longer.

Grace (USA) – Office Manager 2009

My first contact with Buddhism was an Introduction course at Tushita, and afterward I volunteered in the reception office. That was more than a decade ago, and I’ve been back to serve and study here almost every year since. Tushita has been a home to me in that time and has supported my continuing commitment to Buddhist Teachings. In fact, in many and various respects, Tushita was the first stepping stone to some of the most amazing experiences of my life.

Tim (Belgium) – Office Manager 1999 (and on and off ever since!)